Hilary Powell's Journey to Bucharest Documents Alternative Theater in Eastern Europe

Hilary Powell traveled from London to Bucharest via Frankfurt by coach in November 2002, documenting a journey focused on alternative theater initiatives in Eastern Europe. The trip involved a long-haul land voyage marked by discomfort, with time measured by neon petrol station stops, highway tollgates, and border crossings. In Frankfurt, a coach change brought a slower, erratic pace but intensified excitement. Powell's final destination was Romania, where she planned to meet Nona Ciobanu, a theatre director and director of the TOACA cultural foundation in Bucharest. Accompanied by Romanians returning home, the bus broke down, an event met with general acceptance. The article, published on ARTMargins Online, captures the physical and cultural transitions of the region through this personal narrative, highlighting the grassroots theater movements in cities like Prague and Bucharest.